Frequently Asked Questions

Questions about the Long-Range Program and Property Plan? We hope you will find the answers below. If not, please feel free to submit your own questions.You may submit questions to Karen Kelly

Will the camps be available this summer?Summer programs will continue as outlined in the current brochure for summer programs for 2009. A partnership with Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina is underway for the summer 2010 for Mountains to Midlands Girl Scouts to attend their resident camp which is located near the beach.

How does the plan reinvest in programming for girls?The #1 benefit of the strategic property plan is aligning property to meet girls’ programmatic needs and interests. It allows the council to save money and redirect funds from administration to services. There is great opportunity to reinvest the savings, potentially 15%-20% of our operating budget, generated by divesting some properties. Our properties will be destination sites that deliver best-in-class activities our girls said they want.

Tell me more about an “urban” leadership center. Are there other examples?The proposed Mountains to Midlands Leadership Center will serve as our indoor program destination facility focused on a variety of group gatherings, sizes, and programs. Girls envision spaces for specialty arts, an indoor climbing wall, overnight facilities such as dormitories or indoor “cabins,” a large meeting room for 100 people or more, a girls-only lounge, a Girlz Gear shop and even office space to bring staff support closer to our girl and adult members.

How did the Council end up with so much property?Property resources are a key component in fulfilling our mission of providing personal growth and leadership development programming for girls. The reason for holding property in Girl Scouting is for delivering program to girls.Properties have been acquired over the years as Girl Scout programming needs have grown. Some properties may have been donated by generous supporters. All of the property holdings of our 4 legacy councils came to Mountains to Midlands as part of the council realignment in 2007.

With today’s national economic crisis and depressed real estate market, is now really the best time to move forward with a plan like this?Our organization, like families, businesses and other non-profits across the nation, is reassessing how we spend our dollars. We have obtained appraisals on all sites and will insure stewardship of future sales. Now more than ever, we have to be smart, focused and innovative in allocating our limited resources. For us this has meant a careful study of the properties we hold and how to use them more wisely.

How much of your budget goes toward maintaining the camps?Of our total property expense, half goes to support our outdoor facilities.

Who is on the Long-Range Program and Property Committee?

Chair: Mark James, Columbia, Board of Directors

Bill Barnet, Spartanburg, Board of Directors

Stacy Cannon, Travelers Rest, Volunteer

Traci Young Cooper, Blythewood, Board of Directors

Raiessa De'Wein, Columbia, Volunteer

Norma Ferguson, Columbia, Volunteer

Jane Gaino, Gaffney, Board of Directors

Lynn Knoepp, Spartanburg, Volunteer

Donza Mattison, Spartanburg, Volunteer

Robert Mazzoli, Greenville, Board of Directors

Wade Mullins, Columbia, Volunteer

Miriam Pflug, Spartanburg, Volunteer

Jean Shew, Greer, Volunteer

Judy Simpson, Aiken, Board of Directors

Anne Sinclair, Columbia, Volunteer

Omie Sturgill, Anderson, Volunteer

Karen Mitchell, Spartanburg, Chair of the Board

Staff: Lynn Arve, Director, Outdoor Program

Vic Greene, Director, Facilities & Property

Lee Ann Maley, Director, Brand & Internal Controls

Lee Morriss, Vice President/COO

Kim Hutzell, President/CEO

All individuals listed served on the committee. This listing includes those who resigned at any point during the committee’s 14-month work period due to personal commitments or life changes.

I understand that the “modern” girl wants new things but what are you going to do about preserving the core values of Girl Scouts—the things that make our organization unique?This whole initiative is about being true to our mission of providing personal growth and leadership development programs for girls. The property plan allows us to create the right surroundings for fostering that mission. The contemporary interests of today’s girls are some of the very same activities that Girl Scouting has provided for generations. We aim to provide those programs in the best, most appealing and functional facilities we can.

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Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands
is governed by a Board of Directors made up of community
leaders dedicated to helping girls reach their full potential.